Hanukkah Reading
Candlelight for Rebecca is the third book in Rebecca's American Girl series. Traditionally, the third book is always the holiday book, so in this installment we find Rebecca preparing to celebrate Hanukkah with her family. However, every where Rebecca looks there's Christmas decorations. Even at school, the students are creating a Christmas decoration to take home. Rebecca's teacher tells the class that despite one's religion, Christmas is an American holiday celebrated by all.
In her heart, Rebecca feels this isn't right. She follows the class rules and creates the Christmas decoration, but she doesn't feel very good about it. To make matters worse, Rebecca knows her grandmother, Bubbie, and probably her mother will not approve of her bringing home Christmas decorations. Rebecca's twin sisters were already chastised for singing Jingle Bells and wearing red ribbons with bells attached at the ends in their hair. Rebecca is torn between two cultures.
I enjoyed this book and it'd be a great book for a young girl to read to learn more about the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah. The author weaves the story of Hanukkah into the story, so like with the other American Girl books, children don't even realize they're learning. In this story, Rebecca also learns that hard work and doing what's right pays off, when she helps crotchety Mr. Rizzo, her buildings janitor when he's in need of a helping hand. Mr. Rizzo comes down with a cold and Rebecca kindly offers to help him take care of his pigeons and cat. By doing these good deeds, she's able to understand and get to know a person whom she may have misjudged.
I am giving Candlelight for Rebecca 4 out of 5 stars.
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